Snow removal device

ABSTRACT

A snow removal device for removing snow from roofs comprises a blade connected to a sectional handle. A pair of the handle sections are interconnected together by coupling members which permit angular adjustment between the sections. Each coupling member is provided with a plurality of teeth which interlock with teeth on the other coupling member thereby permitting a wide range of adjustment between the respective handle sections. By angularly adjusting the sections, the blade may be positioned in proper relation with respect to the surface of the roof, thereby permitting the snow to be removed from the roof in a highly effective manner while the user is standing on the ground.

[ Nov. 20, 1973 SNOW REMOVAL DEVICE [76] Inventor: George R. Nehls, 3925W. 50th St.,

Minneapolis, Minn. 55424 22 Filed: May a, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 251,039

[52] U.S. C1...,.' 294/54, 37/53 [51] Int. Cl E011! 5/02 [58] Field OfSearch 294/19 R, 53.5, 54, 294/57; 37/53; 56/400.04, 400.05; 306/2, 6,10, 12

[56] 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,091,790 6/1963 Schroeder37/53 X 3,583,747 6/1971 Lambert 294/54 2,438,504 3/1948 Hubbard 306/2 X1,945,430 1/1934 Garrett 294/58 X 3,477,149 11/1969 Wagner 294/54 X5/1953 Dory 37/53 Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk AssistantExaminer-Johnny D. Cherry Attorney-George F. Williamson et al.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A snow removal device for removing snow from roofscomprises a blade connected to a sectional handle. A pair of the handlesections are interconnected together by coupling members which permitangular adjustment between the sections. Each coupling member isprovided with a plurality of teeth which interlock with teeth on theother coupling member thereby permitting a wide range of adjustmentbetween the respective handle sections. By angularly adjusting thesections, the blade may be positioned in proper relation with respect tothe surface of the roof, thereby permitting the snow to be removed fromthe roof in a highly effective manner while the user is standing on theground.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 sNow REMOVAL DEVICE SUMMARY or THEINVENTION It is generally desirable and often times necessary forresidents in areas where there is heavy snow fall to re move the snowfrom the roofs of their houses. Snow rakes have been developed whichhave long handles and which permit a user to stand on the ground andremove the snow from the roof with a raking action. However, it isdifficult for a user to maintain the blade of the snow removal device atthe proper angle with respect to the roof surface as the user rakes thesnow from the roof.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a novelsnow removal device which includes a blade connected to an angularlyadjustable sectional handle. At least two of the handle sections of thehandle are interconnected toether by coupling members each having aplurality of teeth which interlock with the teeth on the other couplingmember. With this arrangement, these handle Sections may be adjustedangularly with respect to each other and this permits the blade of thesnow removal device to be maintained proper relationship with respect tothe roof surface. The number of handle sections used naturallydetermines theoverall, length of the sectional. handle; and

angular and length adjustments permit a user to very efficiently remove.snow from roofs of various sizes and:

inclinations.

These and. other objects and advantages of this invention will morefully appear from the following description made in connection with theaccompany drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the sameor similar parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspectiveview of the novel snow removal device illustrating a manner of use. ofthe device; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the novel removaldevice foreshortened for clarity and illustrating the-details ofconstruction thereof;

. FIG. 3' is a side. elevational view of one end portion of the devicewith certain parts thereof broken awayand illustrating the details ofconstruction of the blade; FIG. 4 is afragmentaryelevational view of thecoupling members which interconnects-a pair of handle sections. togetherwith certain parts thereof broken away for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the end portions of a pair ofhandle sections partly in section and partly in elevation with thehandle sections being illustratedin an uncoupled condition; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a por tion of the handgrip member which is attached to one of the handle sections.

DETAILED DESRIPTION OF THE INVENTIQN' Referring now to the drawings andmore specifically to. FIGS. 1' and: 2. it will be seen that oneembodiment of the. novelsnow removal device, designated generally by thereference numeral '10,, is, the reshown. This snow removal deviceincludes an elongate sectional handle 11 which has a snow removal blade12 secured to the forward end, the'reofi Referring; now to FIGS. 2" and3.,- it will be seen: that the blade 12, preferably formedfrom. arigid:metallic;

shown, although any number of handl'esections may be material such asaluminum or the like, includes atlat upper portion 13 which isintegrally formed with an angular lower portion 14. The angular lowerportion has an elongate longitudinally extending socket member l5integrally formed therewith and'this socket rnember receives a removableedge member 16 which is preferably formed of a yieldable material suchas rubber orthe like. This edge member '16'is provided with a socketengaging portion 17 that snugly engages in the socket of the socketmember 15. I

The upper flat portion of the blade has a relatively large opening 18therein and alsohas a plurality of smaller openings 19 therein adjacentthe larger opening 18. A generally circular flat plate 20 is providedwith a sleeve or port 21 integrally formed therewith and projectingaxially from the central portion thereof. The plate 20 is positionedagainst the blade and the post projects through opening 18 therein andis received within the hollow interior of one of the handle sections 22.

In this regard, the handle sections 22are of elongate hollow cylindricalconstruction and each is formed of a suitable metallic material,preferably aluminum. The circular plate 20 also has a plurality ofopenings 23 therein which are disposed in registering relation with thesmaller openings 19 in the blade 12 and accommodate rivets 24therethrough to secure the blade to the plate 20. The post 21 which isreceived within one of the handle sections 22 is secured theretoby asuitable rivet 25, although any suitable means such as a bolt or thelike may also be used.

One of the important features of the present invention is the angularadjstrnent of the sectional handle 11. To this end, a pair of generallycircular flat coupling members 26 are each secured to one of the handlesec-" I shank of one of the coupling members to its associated handlesection 22.

Each coupling'member 26 is provided'with a plurality of spaced apartperipheral teeth 29 which are arranged in a circular manner and whichgenerally project axially from the coupling member. Each coupling memberalso has an annular recess 30 positioned radially interiorly of theperipheral teeth. 29, and the central portion of each coupling memberhas a rectangular shaped opening 31 therethrough. The openings 31 in thecoupling members receive the shank of a bolt 32 which is threadedlyengaged by a wing nut 33. The rectangular.

shape of the opening 31 accommodates the rectangular shoulder portion ofthe bolt 32 to prevent rotation of the. bolt when the wing nut isapplied to the threaded shank thereof.

with this arrangement, it will be seen that by looseningthe wing nut 33,the angular disposition between the pair of the handle sections may bereadily adjusted by shifting the coupling members with respect to eachother; In: each new position, the interlocking relationship of the teethof the coupling members prevents any movement between the handlesections with respect to their adjusted position.

In the present embodiment, three handle sections are usedto ermitselection of the desired length. Referring now to. FIG. 5, it will be.seen that means for interconnecting the adjacent sections together isthere shown. To this end, it will be seen that each handle section 22has a cylindrical connecting member 34 secured to one end thereof andeach connecting member 34 has a portion thereof which extends interiorlyof the associated handle section and is secured therein by a suitablerivet 35. Each connecting member is provided with a threaded socket 36.Each handle section also has a cylindrical connecting member 37 which ispositioned interiorly of the other end thereof and is secured therein bya suitable rivet 38. The connecting member 37 is provided with anaxially projecting male threaded element 39 which projects from theassociated connecting member 37 but which is positioned interiorly ofthe associated handle section. This male threaded element 39 is adaptedto threadedly engage in the socket 36 of the coupling member 34. It willbe noted that that portion of the coupling member 34 positionedexteriorly of its associated handle section 22 is of a size to be nicelyaccommodated in the space defined between the coupling member 37 and theexterior of the associated handle section. This space in the handlesection containing the coupling member 37 has been designated 22a, asbest seen in FIG. 5. It will be therefore seen that each of the handlesections which does not have a coupling member 26 secured thereto willhave connecting member 34 secured to one end thereof.

The handle section located most remotely from the blade 12 may beprovided with a suitable hand grip member 40 adjacent its outer end tofacilitate operation of the snow removal device. It will be noted thatthe hand grip 40 projects at substantially right angular relationship tothe associated handle section 22 and is connected to a connecting ring41 by a threaded stud 42 which threadedly engages in a threaded boreformed in the connecting ring. The thrreaded stud 42 bears against anannular flap 43 integrally formed with the connecting ring 41 andpositioned interiorly thereof and this clamping flap 43 is adapted toclamp against the end of the associated handle section when the handgrip member 40 is tightened.

In use, a user desiring to remove snow from a roof will adjust theangular relation between those handle sections 22 provided with thecoupling members 26. The angular adjustment is made so that the blademay be properly oriented with respect to the surface of the roof duringthe raking action. The snow removal device may be provided with as manyextensions of the handle sections as desired to effectively remove thesnow from the roof. It will be seen that the sectional handle may beangularly adjusted to orient the blade in proper relationship to theroof surface regardless of the angle or the absence of an angle whichthe surface of the roof defines.

In this regard, it will be noted that the sectional handle may beangularly adjusted through an arc exceeding 270 if desired. Under mostcircumstances, the angular adjustment between the handle sections toproperly orient the blade will usually be less than 45 with respect to astraight or non-angular relationship. However, in some instances it willbe necessary to adjust the angle in excess of 45 but as shown, this maybe readily accomplished. Y

The yieldable scraper edge member permits effective scraping of the roofwhile minimizing any damage to the surface thereof, especially shingles.Further, this edge member 16 may be replaced if it becomes damaged orworn. 1 I

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provideda'novel snow removal 'device'which, because of its unique angularlyadjustablesectio'nal handle, permits a user to very effectivelyscrape orrake the snow from a roof surface regardless of the angle or inclinationof the-roof. The unique construction of the coupling connection betweenthe, angularly adjustable handle sections permit ready and. easyadjustment thereof but provides a very efi'icientstrong connectionbetween these sections. 1

Thus it will be seen that l have provided a snow removal device, whichis not only of simple andinexpensive construction,but one whichfunctions in a more efficient manner than any heretofore knowncomparable device.

What is claimed is:

l. A snow removing device comprising a substantially flat, generallyrectangular blade having an opening in the central portion thereof andhaving a lower portion disposed in angulated relation with respect tothe general plane of the blade, said blade being constructed of asubstantially rigid material, an elongate scraping edge memberdetachably mounted on the lower portion of said blade and being formedof a yieldable material, an elongate sectional handle comprised of aplurality of interconnected elongate generally tubular handle sections,means securing said blade to one end of one of said handle sections,pair of cooperating adjustable coupling, members,

one of which is connected to one end of one sec.-,

tion and the other coupling member being connected to one end of anotherhandle section, each coupling member having a plurality of spaced apartinterlocking teeth arranged in a circular pattern, each tooth on onecoupling member being disposed between and engaging a pair of teeth onthe other coupling member whereby said coupling members may be variouslyadjusted with respect to each other to permit angular adjustment of thehandle sections with respect to each other through an arc exceedingmeans releasably securing the coupling members together in a selectedadjusted position, certain of said handle sections having a pair ofconnecting members on opposite ends thereof, one of said connectingmembers including a male threaded connecting element positionedinteriorly of the associated handle section and extending longitudinallythereof, and the other of said connecting members including a femalesocket element projecting exteriorly and longitudinally of theassociated handle section and releasably engaging a male couplingelement on the adjacent handle section, a hand grip member, a mountingring detachably secured to one of said handle sections and beingdetachably secured to said hand grip member to detachably mount thelatter on said one handle section to project generally at, right anglesthereto. 2. The snow removal device as defined in claim 1 wherein saidblade securing means comprises a substantially flat plate, a postaffixed to said plate and projecting therefrom through the opening insaid blade and telescopically into the end of one of said tubular handlesections, and means securing said plate against the central portion ofsaid blade and securing said post to said last mentioned one handlesection.

1. A snow removing device comprising a substantially flat, generallyrectangular blade having an opening in the central portion thereof andhaving a lower portion disposed in angulated relation with respect tothe general plane of the blade, said blade being constructed of asubstantially rigid material, an elongate scraping edge memberdetachably mounted on the lower portion of said blade and being formedof a yieldable material, ''an elongate sectional handle comprised of aplurality of interconnected elongate generally tubular handle sections,means securing said blade to one end of one of said handle sections, apair of cooperating adjustable coupling members, one of which isconnected to one end of one section and the other coupling member beingconnected to one end of another handle section, each coupling memberhaving a plurality of spaced apart interlocking teeth arranged in acircular pattern, each tooth on one coupling member being disposedbetween and engaging a pair of teeth on the other coupling memberwhereby said coupling members may be variously adjusted with respect toeach other to permit angular adjustment of the handle sections withrespect to each other through an arc exceeding 180*, means releasablysecuring the coupling members together in a selected adjusted position,certain of said handle sections having a pair of connecting members onopposite ends thereof, one of said connecting members including a malethreaded connecting element positioned interiorly of the associatedhandle section and extending longitudinally thereof, and the other ofsaid connecting members including a female socket element projectingexteriorly and longitudinally of the associated handle section andreleasably engaging a male coupling element on the adjacent handlesection, a hand grip member, a mounting ring detachably secured to oneof said handle sections and being detachably secured to said hand gripmember to detachably mount the latter on said one handle section toproject generally at right angles thereto.
 2. The snow removal device asdefined in claim 1 wherein said blade securing means comprises asubstantially flat plate, a post affixed to said plate and projectingtherefrom through the opening in said blade and telescopically into theend of one of said tubular handle sections, and means securing saidplate against the central portion of said blade and securing said postto said last mentioned one handle section.